Thanksgiving 2008

She Was A Breeze

Those are words I never hear about a day spent with Emma Claire so you can know how excited I was to hear Emma Claire's teacher tell me that yesterday. She said she was wonderful and school and obeyed the first time every time they asked her to do anything. YEA EMMA CLAIRE!!!!

However, they did tell me she taught everyone a new word at the lunch table; FROG! Oh no!! She said someone had a frog lunchbox so Emma Claire was telling everyone what is was and exactly how to say it. Of course she had the whole table repeating her. What am I gonna do!?!??!

Christmas Toy Chest

First of all I just want to praise God for all of the wonderful people he has put into our lives since we have been here in Seminary. There have been some amazing people who have ministered to us more than we can imagine. They have given us so much!

Today I was able to go to a Christmas Toy Chest at Bayleaf where I work and pick out toys for Emma Claire for Christmas. The people of this church donate around $30,000 worth of items for Seminary students to come buy for $7 for their children. It was unreal and I was very overwhelmed. I was able to get Emma Claire some great things, but you will have to wait until Christmas to find out! ; )

They also had a raffle table of items for the family like Macs, Ipods, Wii's, Powerwheels, Luggage, Doll houses, Video Cameras, Cameras, and all types of gift-cards. It was so amazing to see how excited people got when their named was called to receive these gifts. We will forever remember the people at Bay Leaf Baptist Church and how they have ministered to us! God Bless You!

Obey, Mommy

I have enjoyed staying home with Emma Claire sooo much! We have had so much fun and I am getting to see her learn everyday. Today she was trying to get me to do something with my hand and I just wasn't doing it the way she wanted me to. She took my hand, looked at me, and in the sweetest voice said "Obey, Mommy". It was very funny to hear, but she did it with the most perfect attitude. I love watching hear grow.

What is She Saying?!?!

This morning while Benjamin was giving Emma Claire her breathing treatment I heard him yell for me to get into the kitchen. She was repeatedly trying to tell him something and he couldn't figure out what she was saying. Once I got into the kitchen he asked her to tell Daddy again what she wanted and I dropped to my knees; it was in complete shock and in laughter. I had no clue what she was saying, but it sounded like something very ugly. When I took her to school that morning I told her teachers what had happened and if they could figure out what she was saying it would be wonderful. It definatly needed to be corrected. That afternoon when I went to pick her up they had figured it out!! She was saying "Frog"!! **You do the math on what it sounded like.**


People around here think it is really funny and they ask her to say frog just so they can hear it. BUT the problem is she just can't say it once. She keeps repeating it over and over because she knows you think it is funny. The other night at the Seminary one of the Vice Presidents asked her to say on his way out because he just had to hear it. Of Course, she said "frog" but she couldn't stop. I had to run outside with her to get her away from everyone. It was the first time I had been that bad embarrassed in a long time!

She's Growing Up Fast

"She's growing up fast" is what I hear myself saying a lot these days. Every time I come home from work she's learned at least five new words. Today she told me "Daddy go and hide" and we played hide and seek (or hide and scare) for a while. Then she told me "Daddy go in house" referring to her little play house, of course. So,we played dress up, piano, and a pop-up game in her house for about a half-hour. What a blessing! She's growing up fast!

Poll Results: What Should Emma Claire get from Santa?

I sure hope we can get Emma Claire a Swing Set!!! I would love to get one, but it will be up to Daddy because when we get done with school he will be the one who has to move it. What do you think Grandpa??? My dream is for her to have a big back yard with a fun swing set and playhouse/fort! : )
Kitchen Set        14%
Doll House          4%
Swing Set          74%
Art Easel             8%

Total votes: 50

Comments:


comment by GG on 11/06/2008

Sounds like Grandpa just got another job added to his "to do" list.

Sit Baby, Obey

We are really trying hard to teach Emma Claire to obey and how to do it correctly; We obey all the way, right away, and with a happy heart. Today she was sitting in the floor playing with her babies putting them in and out of our laundry basket. (Yes, I know, we play with weird things at our house ;) I overheard her talking to her babies and she was saying "Sit baby, obey". I love it! She is growing, growing, growing and learning more each day. I can't wait to hear what she says next.

Comments:


comment by GG on 11/06/2008

Emma Claire: I'm glad your parents are teaching you well....that way it's not so hard for you to "re-learn" the rules that your Grandparents let you break. Poppa & GG love you very much!

Trunk-or-Treat

We had a great day of Halloween fun at church! Everyone gathered at 6:00 to have a hotdog supper and then we had a Trunk-or-Treat soon after. It was my first experience with a Trunk-or-Treat so I wasn't sure what to expect, but it went great and the children had a wonderful time. At our van we set-up a few of the old school games; Sucker in a Haystack, Basketball Shoot, & Clothespin drop. Emma Claire got lots of candy and was wired. We finished up the night by going by the Brown's to trick-or-treat. Emma Claire spent about an hour dancing around their living room and getting everyone to do ring around the rosey. We had a great afternoon of family fun!

Fall Festival 2008

Fall Festival at LLLC

Trunk-or-Treat at Holly Grove Baptist Church

Trick or Treating with the Brown's

O, Be Careful Little Mouth What You Say

Emma Claire has really gotten into repeating things we say. At dinner tonight she had eaten some eggs so needless to say they were all over the floor.  As I was getting up from the table I saw the mess she had made on the floor and said, "O, Laurd" , in a long southern draw, and what did Emma Claire do?  She leaned over from her high chair, looked at the floor, and said "O, Laurd, in a long southern draw.  It was VERY funny to hear her say that, but it was also very convicting.  You really learn a lot about yourself when you begin to listen to the mouth of your child.

Diaper Dance Off

Today in Music Emma Claire really had her dancing shoes on! At one point during class she kept pulling her shirt up and pulling at her pants like she had to go potty. I wasn't sure what she was doing but after several minutes had passed I noticed a huge white lump of something around her right foot. As she kept dancing toward me I realized that it was her diaper!!! She had danced right out of it and it had fallen down her pants leg and around her foot!! When she saw it she thought it was soooo funny and so did Mommy. I am just so glad that she didn't go potty while it was off. The story was even more funny when I went back and watched the videos I had made of her. In one she kept lifting her shirt because she knew something was wrong and in another she was lifting her leg because it was wrapped around her foot. How funny is that! Be sure to watch the videos and look at the pictures so that you get the full effect. : )

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Comments:


comment by Ginger and Mallie Kate Williams on 11/02/2008

That was too funny!! Hayden thought it was funny too!! Love ya'll!

comment by Chelso on 10/24/2008

Emma Claire and her happy feet!!! She knows how to shake it... I can't believe she shook her diaper off though!! UR TOO FUNNY EMMA CLAIRE!!

comment by RaRa on 10/24/2008

That is the funniest story!! Only YOU Emma Claire! Never a dull moment . . . not even at school. You are a dancing machine! I've heard of dancing your socks off but never your diaper!

What's Your Name?

Emma Claire is convinced that her name is Baby and with her hard head there is no convincing otherwise. Tonight at dinner Benjamin & I decided to play a game with her. We would say peoples names and then she would repeat them. We did family, friends, pets, etc. She would repeat everything we said except for when we said Emma. We figured it would be easier for her to start with Emma and then add the Claire later. No matter what we did she would not say it. She would just turn her nose up, look the other direction, point to herself, and say "Babies". (everyone is plural to her : ) I don't know what we are going to do when we decide to have another child!

Comments:


comment by RaRa on 11/09/2008

Thats okay Emma Claire, for years your mother thought her name was "R-A-T" Ashley Renea English cause Grandpa always called her his rat!

I Potty, I Potty!!!

At Emma Claire's 18 month check-up her doctor said he believed that she was ready to begin potty training. She had started showing interest in the potty and she tells you either right before or right after she messes her diaper. So today I finally made the trip to the store to purchase her a potty. Of course it was such a hard decison to make because they have so many great options now. We settled for a middle-class one that plays music when you go potty. It was so sad to think she was old enough to start using the potty like a big girl.
When we got home from the store she had fallen asleep in her carseat so I put her straight to bed for her nap. While she was asleep I put everything together so it would be ready for her when she got up. The plan was to just let her see it, sit on it, and begin talking about what it was for. I was not at all ready for what happened next. I went in to get her up from her nap and her diaper was FULL. I changed her diaper and took her into the living room to see her new potty. (I had mopped the bathroom while she was sleeping so I had to improvise) She was so excited. I explained to her that we "shew-shew" (that is what we call pottying) on the potty and that she needs to tell mommy when she needs to go. I took her diaper off and let her sit on it for a minute and then she insisted that mommy needed to sit on it too! : ) I thought that was going to be that. I placed the potty in our hallway and went into our room to fold the laundry. Then out of the corner of my eye I saw her go sit on her potty (fully clothed) and the next thing I knew she came running into our room saying "Shew-Shew, Mommy, Shew-Shew!" I asked her if she needed to potty and she shook her head yes! I quickly felt her diaper and it was warm so I knew that she had just pottied in her diaper while she was sitting there dressed. Even though she wet her diaper while sitting there I was very proud of her for knowing what to do when she sat on the potty. I sat her down anyway without her diaper so she would begin to learn the concept and the next thing I knew she continued "shew-shewing" in the potty!! It was so crazy. I had just bought the potty today! Of course I know she may decide not to be fully trained until she is 3 years old, but I was so proud of her today. It was something brand new and she is quickly grasping the new concept. After we partied, sang, and got a sucker we got on speakerphone to call daddy. When he answered and I began to tell him what she had done she started yelling over me "I Potty, I Potty!!!". She knew she had done something great! She hasn't "shew-shewed" anymore in the potty by herself tonight but she is VERY interested. She tells us "potty, potty" and wants us to take her diaper off and she will sit there and then stand up and say "done". I am so proud of my sweet baby! I will keep you updated on our progress.

Comments:


comment by Caroline Cooley on 10/23/2008

what a smart girl you are!!!this is the cutest story!!

comment by RaRa on 10/16/2008

Unbelievable! You are so smart and catch on to things so quickly. I don't expect anything less of you knowing your parents as I do. I am anticipating more of the same in the days ahead. I am VERY proud of you Emma Claire Quinn! RaRa loves you very much!

Random October Photos

This is one of the outfits our cousin, Ginger, got Emma Claire at the kids exchange. Thanks Gin!!

This is the sight I saw when I walked into the kitchen. You talk about your heart falling to your knees!

It was a rainy day at Daddy's football game.

Funny Names in MS

Funny names Emma Claire called people while we were in Mississippi:
Phillip - Phi-fup
Gran-Gran - Gan-Gan
Grandpa - Paw-Paw
Chelsey - Chelseys
Mallie - Maui
Branna - Branny
Uncle Brandon - Branon
Aunt Hannah - Hanny
Eli - Leli
She could pronounce these names correctly:

RaRa, GG, Poppa, Pops, Na-Na

Mrs. Patty Cake & Socks

Emma Claire LOVES the videos of Mrs. Patty Cake. We only have one but she wears it out watching it. She has learned all the songs on it and will even count to seven with them on the video. She dances around the living room jumping and singing with the children. For the last couple of weeks Emma Claire has been stuck on wearing her socks on her hands. She puts them on herself and claps her hands. Until today I didn't understand where she got it from. This morning she put the socks on her hands and started clapping and singing the songs from Mrs. Patty Cake. It hit me that she was imitating her! Mrs. Patty Cake wears white gloves and waves her hands in the air doing motions while she sings. I can't believe that it took this long to figure it out. It's amazing how much she picks up everyday. I am so proud to be her mommy!

Poll Results: Saturday Emma Claire will be a Flower Girl in my cousins wedding. Will She ...

We made it through the wedding!! Yea! It was beautiful and Chelsey was beautiful. After we ran through the ceremony 3 times in dress rehearsal Emma Claire was just about over the whole wedding thing. By Saturday she didn't want to do anything but play outside. I think she was only in one or two pictures because she kept telling us she was done and crying. When it was time for Emma Claire to walk down the isle in the ceremony she was outside playing and didn't want to come in. They brought her in and pointed down the isle where I was standing and she slowly started walking (and whimpering) down the isle. When she realized that everyone was looking at her she took off running to me. It was really funny and cute. I held her on stage for a few minutes but she wouldn't quit talking. She kept saying "Please, Please" (so I would give her more gum) and talking to Pops (who was performing the ceremony), and talking to herself. I finally just slipped out with her so she wouldn't distract everyone. It worked out fine because I got slip right back in during the prayer. It was a beautiful ceremony and Emma Claire didn't disrupt them too much.

** I will add a video of her walking down the isle as soon as I can get it working! : )


Throw the flowers and then have to clean them back up? 0%

Dance every time the music comes on? 67%

Have to be taken out because it will be nap time? 0%

Play on the stairs? 17%

Have to be held by mommy? 8%

Wear the flower basket as a hat? 8%

Total votes: 12

Poll Results: What will be Emma Claire's Favorite Activity at School This Year??

Everyone seems to know Emma Claire very well. Her favorite class hands down is Music & Movement. She loves to get in there and dance with her classmates. Even when her teachers take her on a walk with her friends every time they pass by the classroom Emma Claire does a little shimmy with her shoulders. I have no clue where she learned to dance like she does. Even after dinner at home she starts saying "Sing, Sing", "Dance, Dance". It is so funny! She wants us to turn the record player on and we dance to some Elvis. It's a great workout!! : ) Love to All!


Arts & Crafts 0%

Discovery 0%

Music & Movement 95%

Playground 5%

Total votes: 62

Amen......Sorry

As many of you know we have been going through our terrible two's early with Emma Claire. I have dove head deep into disciplining books and reading through Proverbs to see what God's plan is for disciplining our children. The other night we were out with some family and Emma Claire got really upset when she was told "No" when she wanted to go up some stairs. The fit turned into a tantrum so in turn she got a spanking. I then took her to a private room and told her that she had disobeyed and we needed to pray and ask God for forgiveness for how we had acted. We quickly said a couple word prayer and when we were finished I said "Amen". To my surprise she followed with saying "Amen" and then lowered her head and said "Sorry". It was the sweetest thing I had heard and I honestly don't think she was saying it to me. I think she had heard me telling God that we were sorry and she was in turn telling Him too!

MS Trip/ Chelsey's Wedding

Funny Things Emma Claire has Done Today

Funny things Emma Claire has done today:

*When I was cleaning up the bedroom this morning I picked up Benjamin's towel that he had left on the floor and asked Emma Claire if she would take it to the bathroom. She not only took it to the bathroom, but she opened the closet door where the laundry was and put the towel in the basket! I love having a helper!!
*Emma Claire and I were sitting in the floor this morning reading books and watching The Little Mermaid and she kept looking at the TV, pointing, and saying "Funny! Funny!". Isn't that the sweetest.
*At lunch I gave Emma Claire a bowl with English Peas in it (her favorite) to eat for lunch. She started to pour the peas out of the bowl and I told her she was not allowed to dump them out and if she did that would be disobeying and she would get into trouble. I went on about my business straightening up the kitchen and turned around and Emma Claire was taking the peas out of the bowl one by one and laying them on her tray. I only told her she wasn't allowed to dump them. She is way too smart!

Comments:


comment by GG on 09/25/2008

Emma Claire: You are well on your way to "out-smarting" your parents. I'm so glad your Mommy is writing all the journals. You will love reading them when you're older.

Emma Claire's Wonderful Teachers

I just wanted to take a minute and brag on Emma Claire's wonderful teachers. Kelly & Donna have already been such a blessing in taking care of Emma Claire and I know that the rest of the year will be wonderful as well. As we all know, Emma Claire is VERY Strong-Willed. I have just finished a wonderful book called Don't Make Me Count to Three that I think will be very instrumental in Emma Claire's behavior. It deals with issues of the heart and what is the basis of her behavior. Examples, Why is she throwing a temper tantrum because she didn't get her way?, Why is she responding in a Disrespectful way?, Why is she not sharing with her friends? -It's because she is a sinner and we have to teach her the correct responses using the Word of God. We need to ask her heart probing questions on why she is responding the way she is and then show her how she should respond that is pleasing to God. This does not mean that she will not be getting a spanking, but she will also be taught to understand what she did wrong and how God wants us to correct it.

I said all of that to say this...Emma Claire's teacher, Kelly, also just finished reading this book. I consider it a great joy knowing that she will also be using this type of correction with Emma Claire at school. They are not allowed to spank, but she will be able to help in correcting her when she has done wrong.

Kelly and Donna are both seminary wives and I think they will be great with Emma Claire this year. They have both told me that they have their own Strong-Willed child so it will be nothing new to them.

I know the title of the book may be a little bit confusing, but it means don't make me count to three because God wants us to have immediate obedience. We need to obey Right Away, In the Right Way, and All the Way.

Please pray that we will have consistency in disciplining Emma Claire and that we will have wisdom in correcting her.

Can I just say that I love my husband, who will also be aiding in this task, and my sweet baby girl!

Random September Photos

Check out Emma Claire's face! Leah Grace was getting close to her snack. : )

I Want My Mommy!

The last two weeks Emma Claire has been very clingy to Mommy. She won't hardly let me out of her sight. It is to the point where she won't let anyone have anything to do with her at all. Friends say it's just a phase and that their children went through the same thing. This morning started like any other morning but when it was time for Benjamin to go to work Emma Claire wanted nothing more than to love on him before he left. It was so sweet to see her laying her head on his shoulders and saying "Daddy" softly. Of course, Benjamin took advantage of that love and even stayed home a little longer to be with her. Then when we got to school she saw Sara (a friend of mine at work) and and took off running for her to hold her. Maybe we are moving out of this clinginess! Yea! : )

On another note, Emma Claire has started sounding a little hateful when she tells someone "No!". On the way to work this morning I was explaining to her that it was okay to choose to tell someone "No" if she didn't want to do something, but she need to do it in a polite way. We practiced saying "No, Thank You" over and over as we drove to school. Of course, she thought we were playing a game. When I would say "No" she would say "Thank You". This afternoon when I went to pick her up from her class her teacher told me that she told someone "No, Thank You" today. How great was that!! We had only worked on it this morning but it seemed to have stuck. I just pray that it continues.

She is growing up way to fast!

Comments:


comment by Rachael on 09/25/2008

Hooray for Emma Claire learning her manners! And hooray for Mommy being consistent and teaching them to her - you're doing a great job.

New Things Emma Claire Has Started Doing

Emma Claire has started...

*saying "Peas" and "Tank Chew"
*picking out the shoes she wears (and they match!)
*saying "top, top" when she doesn't want you to do something
*standing at the door and yelling at the top of her lungs "Bye, Bye Daddy!"
*telling mommy "Shoe-Shoe" when she is about to mess her pants or has just messed her pants
*picking out her own "nack" out of the cabinet
*saying things are "Hot! Hot!" or "ccccccoooooolllllllldddddd"
*reaching and turning the door knobs herself
*saying words like.. trees, apples, nannas, off, blocks, walk, backpack, unchbox, mine, kitty-kitty, duice, cracker
*saying "wing" for swing or sing
*calling her belly button a "belly butt" (even though we don't say that word :)

My Girls, BQ

We all know that Mom's don't receive the respect and appreciation they deserve, so this is a humble attempt to say how wonderful is my beautiful wife, and how precious is our little girl. In the midst of a very busy time in life, I'm constantly reminded how grateful I am for my girls. To come home from work and see a beautiful little red-head dashing to the door threatening to break the glass to greet daddy, and a gorgeous brunette smiling almost as big waiting for a hug and kiss is truly a great gift from a great God. I love you girls!

Comments:


comment by Billy and Rhonda on 09/08/2008

Thankful Praise from a GREAT Dad, Husband, and Son-in-law. We love you for YOU!

Poll Results: How much did Emma Claire weigh at her 18 month check-up??

Okay, so nobody won on the poll for what Emma Claire weighed at 18 months. BUT, don't feel bad because even her mommy thought she weighed more than 27 pounds!


We had a great visit and Emma Claire behaved very well. Dr. Dirk said that she was doing wonderfully and was very funny and busy. She kept him moving and laughing the whole time he was in our room. He said we definitely needed to make sure we never let her out of our sight.

Emma Claire was 33 1/2 inches tall (92%), 27 lbs 12 oz (90%), and her head was 48.7 cm (95%). She did get one shot, but the tears didn't last very long. She received a little love from mommy and then was ready to put on her backpack and tell them "bye, bye".

He did say that the next few months would be the toughest for her with her asthma. Please pray with us as the weather begins to change that her little body would stay strong and her medicine will continue to work.

P.S. Here's a funny from the Doctors Office. Dr. Dirk got out his light to look in her ears and she smiled and said "CHEESE"! : )

We love you, all, so much!!!

Poll Results:


26 Pounds 0%

27 Pounds 0%

28 Pounds 14%

29 Pounds 29%

30 Pounds 57%

31 Pounds 0%

32 Pounds 0%

33 Pounds 0%


Total votes: 7

Comments:


comment by RaRa on 09/08/2008

Yeah Emma Claire! You are such a big girl. Good doctor's visit. I will pray that the season change (and climate change with your wedding/holiday travels to MS) will go very smoothly. I love you baby girl!

Poll Results: When is the Best Time to Potty Train?

Well, here are the results! The winner is at age 2. We are not far from there so...... everybody get ready! : )


18 Months 5%

2 Years Old 88%

2 1/2 Years Old 5%

3 Years Old 3%

Total votes: 40

Ashey, Ashey

Out of no where Emma Claire has started walking around the house calling for "Ashey Ashey", but when she finds me it turns into "Mommy, Mommy". I'm not sure where this came from but it is very funny. I have tried to get a video of it but haven't caught her in the right moment. Keep a look out on the videos because I will post it as soon as I do.

Breakfast

Breakfast with EC is always an adventure, and yesterday morning, Sunday of all days, was no different. But thankfully, yesterday's adventure was fun and, believe it or not, didn't make us late for church. I had given EC blueberry muffins for breakfast and was watching her eat while I administered her breathing treatment. She gladly ate about half of her muffins, then she put the remaining pieces in a pile in the center of her tray. She scooped them up with both hands, put them back on the paper plate I had used to fix them, cleaned off her hands and said, "Thank You." In short, she had eaten all she wanted, cleaned up her spot, and was thankful for the service--no tip though. She's getting so big! BQ2

Comments:

comment by RaRa on 09/02/2008

What parent wouldn't love their child cleaning up after themselves and being polite???!!! Just another affirmation of my "perfect" grandaughter!! HA! Gotta Love Her!